Flexible interlocking shingle



Aug, 23, 1938 s. P. MILLER 25,127,695

FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING SHINGLE Filed Jun} 21, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 1 :1 I 1 I l I L 8 Z5 Z7 26 ZINVENTOR 3 001-7 F. Miller ATTORNEY I Aug. 23, 1938. I s MlLLER 2,127,695

FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING SHINGLE Filed July 21, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Z INVENTOR I 5 5am K? Miller Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES FLEXIBLE IN TERLOCKING SHIN GLE Stuart P. Miller, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to The Barrett Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 21, 1936, Serial No. 91,716

16 Claims.

This invention relates to shingles and more particularly to shingles of the interlocking flexible type.

One object of this invention is to provide a shingle which may be laid in interlocking relation with other like shingles to form a durable roof construction in which the exposed portions including the locking portions are securely fastened to the roof deck and thus secured against being lifted by the wind or otherwise displaced.

Another object of this invention-is to provide a shingle having a compound look, i. e., which may be interlocked with a plurality of locking portions of a similar shingle to form a strong lock between the shingles. In the preferred embodiment of the invention each locking portion of the shingle is associated with one corner on the portion of the element intended to be exposed to the weather and is defined by slots leading into the side and forward edges of the element defining the said corner.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description.

The shingle of this invention comprises a body portion of general rectangular form bounded by a forward edge, a rear edge and transverse edges connecting the forward and rear edges. The shingle is provided in the neighborhood of a transverse edge with looking members lying within the outline of the shingle defined by the edges. Preferably the transverse edges of the shingle are provided with additional locking openings extending inwardly therefrom.

When the shingles are laid, the locking members in the neighborhood of one transverse edge of one shingle interlock with looking members of an underlying shingle to produce a compound look as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The shingle may be provided with auxiliary locking members formed by cutting slits or slots in the locking members hereinabove described.

form

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of shingle;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing two of the shingles of Fig. 5 in interlocked rela-' tion;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of another modified form of shingle in which additional locking members are provided to secure a stronger interlockbetween the shingles; v

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing two shingles of the type shown in Fig. 7 in interlocked relation;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of another modified shingle constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating two shingles such as shown in Fig. 10 in interlocked relation;

Figs. 12, l4, l6, 1'7, 18, 20, and 22 are plan views illustrating further modified shingles constructed in accordance with this invention; and

Figs. 13, 15, 19, 21, and 23 are fragmentary enlarged plan views illustrating how the shingles shown in Figs. 12, 14, 18, 20, and 22 respectively, may be locked together. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 2 illustrates a shingle l of generally rectangular form bounded by forward edge 2 intended to be exposed, rear edge '5 intended to be covered when the shingles are laid and transverse edges 4 and 5 connecting the forward and rear edges of the shingle. 'The forward edge 2 of the shingle is provided with locking openings which may be in the form of slits constituted of inclined portions 6, 1, extending inwardly from the forward edge of the shingle and horizontal portions 8, 9, extending from the inner ends of inclined portions 6 and 1, respectively, towardthe transverse median line of the shingle. The shingle is provided with locking openings or notches Hi, I l, extending inwardly from the transverse edges 4, 5 in substantially horizontal alignment with the horizontally extending portions 8, 9 of the locking slits. This construction, it will be observed, provides a pair of locking members l2, l3, in the neighborhood of the corner formed by the intersection of edges 2 and 4 and another pair of similar shaped locking members I4, IS, in the neighborhood of the corner formed by the intersection of edges 2 and 5.

The shingle may be provided with an aligning notch It on transverse edge 4 and an aligning tab H on the transverse edge 5 which tab may be complemental to notch H. Notches I6 and tabs l'l indicate the position in which the forward edges of the shingles of an overlapping course are to be laid with respect to the preceding coursein order to secure the proper amount of overlap between successive courses.

The shingle of Fig. 2 may be cut from a roofing sheet by a procedure which will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1. Notches I0 and I6 are formed by cut-outs along opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet. The notches l I and tabs ll are formed by cutting the sheet along a longitudinal broken line 20 and the resultant strips are separated into individual shingles by staggered transverse cuts 2|. The locking slits 6, l, 8, 9, may be formed during the cutting operation by appropriately disposed cutting members on the cutting cylinder or other cutting mechanism employed. It will be observed that the cutting of the shingles is accomplished without substantial waste of material, the only portion of the roofing sheet wasted being that cut out of the notches l0 and IS. A roofing sheet of a width corresponding to the combined width of any desired number of shingles may be employed. Such roofing sheet may advantageously be constituted of a felt base impregnated and coated with waterproofing material, for example asphalt, and having a layer of granular surfacing material partially embedded in the coating material.

The shingles may be laid in overlapping courses with each shingle interlocked with adjacent shingles of the same course as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In laying the shingles, the locking members l4 and 15 of shingle A may, if desired, be deflected upwardly somewhat from the plane of the shingle and shingle B then placed in overlapping relation to shingle A with the locking members l2 and I3 underlying the locking members i 5 and M respectively of shingle A, and a portion l2 of the locking member [2 overlying a portion of the locking member M of shingle A. When the parts are properly positioned the notch Ill of shingle B engages the inner end of slit 9 of shingle A and the notch ll of shingle A engages the inner end of the locking opening 8 of shingle B. It will be observed that the shingles are reversible in the sense that they may be laid either from left to right or from right to left.

The resulting construction provides a durable roof, the exposed portion of each shingle of which is securely locked to each of two adjacent shingles by interlocking engagement between two locking members on each of the shingles, which locking members lie within the edges defining the body portion of the shingle. The roof is of pleasing design as appears from Fig. 4 which may be further variegated by laying shingles of some of the courses from right to left and others of the courses from left to right.

The shingle shown in Fig. 5 diifers from that of Fig. 2 chiefly in that the locking openings 23, 24 extending from the forward edge 2 are of curved instead of angular configuration. These shingles may be laid as illustrated in Fig. 6 similarly to the shingles of Fig. 2, with the locking members 2'! and 28 of underlying shingle C overlying the locking members 25 and 26 respectively of overlying shingle D. This construction provides a pleasing variation in a design of the roof. Fig. '7 illustrates a shingle which provides an even stronger interlock with contiguous shingles than the shingles of Figs. 2 and 6. The locking openings 23 and 24 of the shingle of Fig. '7 may be similar to the corresponding openings of the shingle of Fig. 6. Additional locking openings 29, 30, extend inwardly from the forward edge of the shingle adjacent the points at which the openings 23 and 24 enter said edge. The openings 23, 24 and 29, 30, form pairs of locking members or tongues 26 and 2?, 3i and 32, 33 and 34, one member of each pair being located in the neighborhood of a transverse edge of the shingle.

In laying the shingles (see Figs. 8 and 9) the locking members 27 and 32 of shingle E may be deflected upwardly from the plane of the shingle and locking members 3! and 26 of overlapping shingle F inserted under locking members 2'! and 32, respectively. When the shingles are in interlocked position a substantial portion of the lock ing member 34 of shingle E will lie in the plane of and between locking members 3i and 26 of shingle F and a substantial portion of lockin member 33 of shingle F will lie between and in the plane of locking members 21 and 32 of shingle E as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The applicator may then strike locking member 33 with a hammer or other tool to force this member and the underlying member downwardly so that the side edges of these members abut against the edges of locking members 32 and 26, increasing the strength of the lock between contiguous shingles. The shingle illustrated in Fig. 10 differs from the shingle of Fig. 2 chiefly in that the locking members l2 and M are provided with internal uts 36, 38 defining auxiliary locking members 36', 38, deflectable from the plane of members I2 and I4. When the shingles are interlocked as illustrated in Fig. 11, the auxiliary locking member 38 of shingle G is deflected outwardly from the plane of locking member l4 and overlies an edge of locking member 12 of shingle H. The auxiliary locking member 36' of shingle H is depressed downwardly from the plane of locking member l2 and underlies an edge of the locking member M of shingle G. The interengagement of the interlocking portions of adjacent shingles securely locks the shingles together and prevents relative linear movement of the shingles.

In Fig. 12 there is disclosed a shingle provided with straight slots 40, 4| extending from the forward edge 2 in substantial parallelism with the transverse edges 4 and 5 and defining locking members 42, 43, 44 and 45. The shingles of Fig. 12 may be laid as illustrated in Fig. 13 with the locking members 42, 44 of an overlying shingle extending beneath locking members 45 and 43 respectively of an underlying shingle with the apex of the opening In looking with the top of slot 4! and the apex of the opening ll locking with the top of slot 46. The resultant interlock between the shingles is strong and efiective and the roof formed by laying the shingles presents a pleasing variation in design.

The shingle of Fig. 14 is provided with curved slits 4?, 48 extending from its forward edge and terminating in substantially vertical relatively short slits d9, 58. Angular slits constituted of. horizontal portions 5|, 52 and vertical portions 53, 54 extend from the transverse edges 4 and 5. Angular slits 5!, 53 define a locking member 53 and curved slit 4'l' defines a locking member 41'.

underlies the overlying shingle.

correspondingly on the opposite side of the shingle angular slits 52, 54 define a locking member 54' and curved slit 48 defines a locking member 48'. These shingles may be laidin overlapping relation as illustrated in Fig. 15 with their exposed edges in alignment and with the locking members 53 and 41' of the overlying shingle underlying locking members 48' and 54' respectively of the underlying shingle.

The shingles of Figs. 16 and 17 may be employed where variations in design of the roof are desired. The shingle of Fig. 16 is provided with straight slits 51, 58 leading inwardly from its forward edge 2 and curved slits 59, 60 extending inwardly from the transverse edges 4 and 5 respectively. The shingle of Fig. 17 differs from that of Fig. 16 chiefly in that curved outwardly diverging slits 6|, 6| instead of straight slits extend inwardly from the forward edge of the shingle. These shingles may be locked together in the manner hereinabove described in connection with the shingles of Fig. 14. I

The shingle of Fig. 18 is provided with a slit 62 extending inwardly from the forward edge of the shingle, a curved slit 64 extending inwardly and downwardly from transverse edge 4 and another curved slit 66 extending inwardly and upwardly from transverse edge 5. The inner and open ends of slit 66 are in substantially horizontal alignment with the inner end of slit 64 and the inner end of slit 62 respectively. These slits define locking members 61, 68 and 69. The shingles may be locked together as illustrated in Fig. 19 with the inner ends of slits 64 and 66 of a pair of shingles in engagement and the locking member 69 of shingle L overlying locking member 88, extending through slit 62, and underlying locking member 61 of shingle M. This provides a double lock between the shingles in which a portion of a locking member of an underlying shingle adjacent the body of such shingle overlies a portion of an overlying shingle and another portion of the locking member of the underlying shingle remote from body portion of such shingle It will be noted hat by this construction the interlock between the shingles resists relative linear movement of the shingles in any direction.

The shingles of Figs. 20 and 21 are provided with curved slits H, 12 inwardly converging from the forward edge of the shingle and downwardly directed curved slits 13, 14 extending from the transverse edges defining respectively locking projections H, l2, l3 and I4. The shingles may be interlocked as illustrated in Fig. 21 with the locking projections 13' and H of overlying shingle O underlying locking members 12 and M respectively of underlying shingle N.

In Fig. 22 there is illustrated a shingle having a straight slit 18 extending inwardly from the forward edge of the shingle in the neighborhood of. transverse edge 5, an angular slit extending inwardly from transverse edge 4 constituted of horizontal portion 80 and downwardly extending vertical portion 8! and a second angular slit extending inwardly from transverse edge 5 constituted of horizontal portion 82 and upwardly directed vertical portion 83. The closed inner ends of the portions 8| and 83 of the angular slits are in substantially horizontal alignment. This shingle may be interlocked as illustrated in Fig. 23 with the closed ends of the vertical portions 8| and '83 of the slits in engagement and with the locking projection 84 of underlying shingle X overlying the locking member 85 of overlying shingle Y. The end of the locking member 84 extends through slit 18 and underlies the locking member 86 of shingle Y. It will'be observed that the locking member 84 of the underlying shingle X comprises a portion adjacent the body portion of the shingle adapted to overlie aportion of overlying shingle Y and another portion remote from the body portion adapted to underlie another portion of the overlying shingle Y.

It will be noted that the shingle of this invention involves a body portion and a plurality of locking members lying substantially within the outline of the body portion, and associated with the corners of the element. The locking members are adapted to interlock with looking members of adjacent shingles to form a strong interlock between the shingles. These shingles may advantageously be laid in courses to provide a durable roof construction having the forward edges of each of the adjacent shingles in the same course locked together by a double lock which tends to prevent blowing or rippingup of the shingles by the wind.

While I have illustrated certain of my shingles equipped with looking openings constituted of slots and others with locking openings constituted of slits, it is to be understood that slots may be substituted for slits and vice versa.

I claim:

1. A shingle comprising a body portion having aforward edge intended to be exposed and transverse edges extending in angular relation to said forward edge, said shingle being provided with looking members, substantial portions of which are adapted to lie in the plane of and abut in edge-to-edge relation locking members of an interlocking shingle to prevent relative coplanar movement of the shingles'in a direction to separate them.

2. A shingle comprising a body portion. bounded by a forward edge and transverse edges extending in angular relation to said forward edge, said shingle being provided with looking openings defining a plurality of locking members in the neighborhood of each of the corners formed by the intersection of said forward edge and transverse edges, a substantial portion of at least one of said locking members being adapted to lie in the plane of and abut in edge-to-edge relationship a locking member of another shingle, when the shingles are laid, to prevent relative linear movement of the shingles in one direction.

3. An interlocking shingle comprising a body portion having a forward edge and transverse edges intersecting said forward edge, said forward edge being provided with locking openings extending thereinto in the neighborhood of each of said transverse edges, said locking openings defining a plurality of locking members in proximity to each of said transverse edges, said shin gle being adapted to be laid in overlapping relation with other similar shingles with a substantial portion'of a locking member of one shingle lying in the plane of and abutting in edge-toedge relationship a locking member of another shingle.

4. A shingle comprising a body portion having a forward edge and transverse edges, said shingle being provided with locking openings extending inwardly from said forward edge and defining locking members, said locking members being provided with cuts located between said locking openings and said transverse edges to provide additional locking members deflectable from the plane of said first mentioned locking members.

5.A shingle of the class described, comprising a body portion provided with a locking opening adapted to interlock, when the shingles are laid, with the locking opening of another similar shingle and a locking member having a portion adjacent and attached to the body portion of said shingle adapted to overlie a portion of an overlying shingle and a terminal portion adapted to underlie another portion of said overlying shingle.

6. A shingle comprising a body portion having a forward edge and transverse edges intersecting said forward edge, said shingle being provided with an inwardly and downwardly extending locking opening adjacent one of said transverse edges, an inwardly and upwardly extending looking opening adjacent the other transverse edge, a locking opening extending inwardly from said forward edge adjacent one of said first named locking openings, and a locking member adjacent one of the transverse edges of said shingle, the first named locking opening of said shingle being adapted, when the shingle is laid, to interlock with the second named locking opening of an adjacent similar shingle, and said locking member being adapted to extend through said last named locking opening of said adjacent shingle whereby it both underlies and overlies said adjacent shingle.

'7. A roof construction comprising a plurality of shingles, each of said shingles being provided with a plurality of locking members adjacent opposite sides thereof, at least a substantial portion of one of the locking members adjacent a side of each shingle lying in the plane of and abutting in edge to edge relation a locking member of an adjacent shingle.

8. A roof construction comprising a plurality of overlapping courses of shingles, each of said courses being composed of a plurality of overlapping shingles, each of said shingles comprising a body portion having a locking member extending therefrom, a portion of said locking member adjacent the body portion overlying an underlying shingle, and a portion of the locking member remote from said body portion underlying said underlying shingle.

9. An-interlocking shingle adapted to be laid in overlapping and underlapping relation with other shingles, said shingle comprising a substantially rectangular body portion provided with upper and lower edges of substantially equal length, a plurality of locking portions lying substantially within the outline of said body portion, said locking portions being adapted to underlie a plurality of locking portions of an underlying shingle.

10. An interlocking shingle adapted to be laid in courses in underlapping and overlapping relation with other shingles in the same course comprising a body portion of general rectangular form and tree of projecting portions, said body portion having upper and lower edges of substantially equal length, said shingle having on said lower edge a plurality of locking members located substantially within the rectangular body portion of the shingle, said locking members being adapted to underlie portions of an underlying shingle.

11. An interlocking shingle comprising a body portion of general rectangular form, said body portion having an edge to be exposed and an upper edge of substantially equal length, a side greases :edgelu'connecting said edge to be exposed and upper edge, said side edge and said edge to be exposed being cut to provide locking portions lying substantially within the body portion of the shingle, one of said locking portions being adapted, when the shingles are laid in underlapping and overlapping relation with other shingles, to extend partially over and partially under a contiguous underlying shingle and another-of said locking-portions being adapted to underlie said underlying shingle.

12.'A flexible interlocking shingle of general rectangular shape having upper and lower edges of substantially equal length and transverse edges connecting the upper and lower edges, two locking'openings extending upwardly from said lower edgeand a locking opening extending inwardly .from each of said transverse edges, said locking openings defining a locking member located at each of the lower corners of the shingle and lying. substantially entirely within the rectangular outline of the shingle, and two additional locking .members spaced inwardly from said corners, 'said shingle being adapted to be laid with other-like shingles in overlapping courses with said locking members locking with like members of contiguous shingles to form a double .1001; between the shingles.

1'3. A-flexible interlocking shingle having upper and lower edges and transverse edges extending;

between the upper and lower edges, two locking openings extending upwardly from said lower edge and a locking opening extending inwardly from each of said transverse edges, said locking openings defining a locking member located at each of thelower corners of the shingle and lying substantially entirely-within the outline of the shingle defined by' said edges and 'two additional locking members spaced inwardly from said lower corners, said additional locking members also :lying substantially within the outline of said shingle-saidshingle being devoid of locking portions projecting beyond-the outline defined by said-edges, said shingle being adapted to be laidin underlapping and overlapping relation with other like shingles.

' 14. A flexible felt base shingle comprising a body portion of general rectangular form, said body portion being bounded by upper and lower edges. of substantially .equal length and transverse edgesconnecting said upper and lower edges, said shingle being provided with a locking-opening'extending inwardly from said forward edge adjacent each of the transverse edges, each of said locking openings terminating in a portion extending generally toward the transversemedian line of said shingle, each of said transverse edges being provided with a locking opening extending thereinto in substantial horizontal alignment withsaid. last named portions of said locking openings, said locking openings defining two. locking members in the neighborhood of each of the corners formed by the intersection of the forward edge and a transverse edge of said shingle, the locking members of said shingle being adapted, when the shingle is laid, to overlie locking members of an overlying shingle or to underlie locking members of an underlying shingle.

15. A roof construction comprising a plurality of shingles, each of said shingles comprising a bodyportion of general rectangular form provided with upper and lower edges of substantially equal length, a plurality of locking members positioned substantially entirely within the rectangular outline of each of said shingles near one corner thereof, said locking members of each of said shingles being positioned in overlapping and underlapping relation with respect to locking portions of an adjacent shingle to provide a double lock between the shingles.

16. An assembly of flexible interlocking shingles of general rectangular shape on a. roof deck arranged in overlapping relation, said shingles having upper and lower edges of substantially equal length and locking members and openings in the overlapping portions of the shingles interlocked so as to prevent relative linear movement of the shingles in the plane of the deck in any direction, the locking members of each shingle lying substantially within the rectangular outline of the shingle.

STUART P. MILLER. 

